Adult competitive figure skater Jeffrey L. Gosselin of Westfield. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS SUBMITTED PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – Jeffrey L. Gosselin of Westfield has been recognized as a U.S. Figure Skating Association 2020 Season “Get Up and Go Champion.”
Gosselin, an adult competitive figure skater, was nominated by his skating club, the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury, along with several other members of the club. The award winners will be featured in an upcoming issue of “Skating” magazine.
According to the club announcement, the nominees were selected based on several of the following attributes: “positive attitude, bravery, true determination, a willingness to serve others, inspiration for others, strength of heart and character.”
“I didn’t even know about it,” Gosselin said, adding, “This just perked me up a little bit. I didn’t expect it at all.”
Gosselin started skating at Amelia Park in 2008 at the age of 40. After two years, his coach suggested he go to Simsbury, where the competition was more advanced. “That opened the window of opportunity to do other things,” he said.
He now competes in Class III, Men ages 46 to 54, one of the few in the class that did not start as a child. He has also served as a judge, a coach for the Learn to Skate program, and worked registration when the Eastern Sectionals were held in CT.
Jeffrey L. Gosselin on the ice in Simsbury. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Recently, Gosselin passed the Adult Pre-Bronze level before three national judges. His goal is to move onto the Bronze level of competition
When he is not able to get on the ice, Gosselin does a lot of off-ice training, including Zumba, which he used to teach. He also studies ballet at the All Stars Dance Center with Kim Starsiak. Prior to beginning skating, he studied dance with Betty Champion in Westfield.
Gosselin said one of the other Get Up Champion nominees is Daniel Petrenko, nephew of champion figure skater Viktor Petrenko. He said he is looking forward to both Petrenko and Ekaterina Gordeeva coming to Simsbury to perform.
“Sports doesn’t end at high school or college. Almost all sports have an adult section,” Gosselin said.
About the challenges of starting much later than other skaters, he said “you just have to keep going for it.”
Gosselin is an Autism Assistant at JFK Middle School in Northampton, and formerly served in the Springfield Public Schools. He is a member of the the Westfield Commission for Citizens with Disabilities, and previously served two terms on the Westfield School Committee.
